Central Florida cornerback Josh Robinson (20) attempts to break the grasp of Southern Mississippi defensive back Mortez Thompson (6) in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game in Hattiesburg, Miss., Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011. Southern Miss won the game 30-29. (AP Photo/Steve Coleman)

Southern California tight end Rhett Ellison dives in for a touchdown as quarterback Matt Barkley (7) celebrates and Syracuse linebacker Marquis Spruill, center, and linebacker Lewellyn Coker (11) look on during the first half of their NCAA college football game on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Between more than a dozen unrestricted free-agent signings since mid-March and last week’s 10 draft picks, the Vikings’ first step in the rebuilding manual is clearly stated:

Stockpile affordable talent, create as much competition as possible and hope for the best.

Without overspending on flashy free agents, the Vikings have no other options when trying to strengthen a roster with more holes than a soccer net.

As it stands, the Vikings appear better equipped than in 2011, when they overvalued their overall talent and resisted the chance to tear it all down.

Depth should markedly improve, but beyond the Vikings’ two first-round draft picks – USC left tackle Matt Kalil and Notre Dame safety Harrison Smith – it’s difficult to forecast how many new starters will emerge next season.

The team’s biggest free-agent splash, tight end John Carlson, will pair with Kyle Rudolph in plenty of two-tight-end sets.

Third-round cornerback Josh Robinson will have his chances to earn time alongside Chris Cook and Antoine Winfield.

A trio of free agents – right guard Geoff Schwartz, wide receiver Jerome Simpson and cornerback Chris Carr – have been productive in the past but must compete for roles in a new system.

In other words, the Vikings have reasons to believe they’re a better team – but using the word “contender” seems far-fetched.

“Our theme was adding a lot of smart, tough football players that love to play the game,” general manager Rick Spielman said of this year’s draft.

That’s a good place to start, but even Spielman didn’t pour all his resources into this year’s draft. He gave up picks in the later rounds in trades with Tennessee and Detroit in exchange for a fourth- and a sixth-rounder for 2013, showing the Vikings aren’t boom-or-bust for 2012.

This team needs time to develop. And Spielman knows it.

Looking for instant improvement? Look no further than the offensive line, where Kalil can be a decade-long answer to pass-protection woes and Charlie Johnson can make a fruitful move to guard. Offensive line coach Jeff Davidson believes Johnson can thrive inside.

Center John Sullivan could be Pro Bowl-bound, right tackle Phil Loadholt is motivated entering a contract year and right guard has up to three viable options in Schwartz, Brandon Fusco and Joe Berger.

By doubling up on Arkansas receivers in the fourth round, the Vikings are giving quarterback Christian Ponder a shifty slot option (Jarius Wright) and a tall downfield target (Greg Childs).

Couple the draft moves with the acquisition of Simpson, a troubled but talented receiver with career highs in catches (50) and yards (725) last season, and Ponder is getting much-needed receiver and blind-side help. Ponder was sacked 30 times in 11 games and 10 starts last season. No reason why those numbers shouldn’t improve.

A historically bad secondary from a year ago can’t get much worse, and the success of the unit will hinge partly on the development of Smith, for whom the Vikings traded a second- and fourth-round pick to acquire at No. 29 overall.

Smith is a big hitter and a savvy, intelligent player, but he must prove he can cover tight ends at the next level.

Only Smith’s steady improvement can show whether the Vikings were right in ignoring corner and wide receiver options with that 29th pick.

Questions remain at positions that were largely ignored in this year’s draft – nose tackle (Is Letroy Guion the answer?), running back (Will Toby Gerhart have enough support, especially if Adrian Peterson’s not healthy for the opener?) and linebacker (Is Jasper Brinkley ready for starting duty?). The Vikings didn’t take a running back among their 10 picks and used seventh-round fliers on North Carolina State linebacker Audie Cole and Cal defensive end/tackle Trevor Guyton.

With 68 players on the active roster before the draft, the Vikings will throw 10 drafted rookies and up to 15 undrafted free agents into the mix for all-out competition at several spots.

That’s just the way Spielman wants it.

“I feel very excited that we have improved our football team over the offseason and with this draft and can’t wait to see these guys come in – the rookies will be in next week – and get them going,” Spielman said. “But I know the biggest part was trying to upgrade our roster from a personnel standpoint, and I believe we accomplished that mission this weekend.”

As you comment, please be respectful of other commenters and other viewpoints. Our goal with article comments is to provide a space for civil, informative and constructive conversations. We reserve the right to remove any comment we deem to be defamatory, rude, insulting to others, hateful, off-topic or reckless to the community. See our full terms of use here.

More in Sports

Ahmad Rashad has been there for many of Michael Jordan’s landmark moments. Now, it’s time for Jordan to return the favor. Rashad, the former Vikings wide receiver, became good friends with Jordan during the 1980s when Rashad was an NBC broadcaster and Jordan was starring with the Chicago Bulls. Rashad was the emcee for Jordan’s two Bulls retirement ceremonies in...

Four NCAA assistant basketball coaches were among those arrested on federal corruption charges Tuesday after they were caught taking thousands of dollars in bribes to steer NBA-destined college stars toward certain sports agents and financial advisers, authorities said.

CLEVELAND — Coming off a disappointing season at Triple-A Rochester, South Korean first baseman ByungHo Park has decided to remain in the Twin Cities for the bulk of this offseason in hopes of righting his major league career. “As I understand it, he is going to work out stateside for the offseason,” Twins chief baseball officer Derek Falvey said. “He’ll...

The Gophers will likely play Maryland’s third-string quarterback Max Bortenschlager in Saturday’s Big Ten opener at TCF Bank Stadium. First-string QB Tyrrell Pigrome was lost for the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee in the Sept. 2 season-opening upset victory over Texas. On Saturday, backup QB Karim Hill also tore his ACL and is done for the year....

SAN DIEGO — Taj Gibson made a point to single out one player after the Timberwolves’ first practice of training camp Saturday — Shabazz Muhammad. “He kind of set the tone in my eyes of how hard he was playing and moving his feet, and that’s where we’re going to need,” Gibson said. “Every day you’re probably not going to...